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It is important for a home inspector to continue their education so that they can become the best inspector possible. Below are five ways home inspectors can continue their education to improve themselves and their companies.

Attend Conferences and Seminars

Attending conferences and seminars is a great way for a home inspector to increase their knowledge about the home inspection industry. Speakers will cover a variety of topics that allow the home inspector to learn the latest news and techniques in home inspection. This will allow them to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for anything they may see on an inspection. Conferences also give inspectors the opportunity to visit with different product vendors related to home inspections. Here, they can learn about the latest technology, advancements in home inspection software, and what’s new in the industry.

Connect/Network with other Home Inspectors

A great way to connect and network with industry contacts is to join an association. There are many benefits to joining an association, including educational resources, monthly news, online forums, discounts, and much more. Online forums allow home inspectors to bounce ideas and questions off of each other, making it a great place to learn. Inspectors can also connect and network at conferences, seminars, and association meetings.

Attend Classes/Training Related to Home Inspections

To continue their education, a home inspector should consider attending additional classes and training. There are several training courses available for new and veteran inspectors. These continuing education courses include marketing and business courses, such as online advertising, selling, and client relationship building. Learning these aspects of the business is critical for making their company a success. Technical classes are also offered, such as what to look for when inspecting roofs, electrical components, and plumbing. These types of classes help an inspector avoid potential issues and cover themselves from liability. For an inspector who is looking to diversify themselves, there are also specialty courses available. Some of these courses include mold, radon, and termite testing, among others. Attending continuing education classes is a great way to stay educated, as well as, give the inspector the ability to offer additional services to their client.

Take Additional Courses, Not Necessarily Related to Home Inspections

Classes that do not directly relate to home inspections are often overlooked by inspectors. Some of these courses include report writing, communication skills, business practices, and legal issues. Inspectors who decide to continue their education with classes like these can really separate themselves from other inspectors who lack this kind of training and knowledge. Even though these types of classes aren’t directly related to home inspections, they can help a home inspector improve the quality of their service.

Job Shadowing

New and veteran inspectors can both benefit from shadowing another professional while on a job. New inspectors can gain a great deal of knowledge and useful information by shadowing veteran inspectors. If they can find someone who is willing to show them the ropes, this is a great first step for inspectors looking to break into the industry. Veteran inspectors can benefit from shadowing professional contractors on repair or maintenance jobs. Gaining additional knowledge that can be used on the job will help them become a better inspector.

Continuously trying to learn and improve yourself is a must in any business. In order to run a successful home inspection business, the inspector needs to be the best inspector possible. Continuing to learn will not only benefit them and their business, it will also benefit their client.

As you prepare for a new future in home inspection, you may wonder what type of learning method provides the most advantages for you. If you haven’t considered learning online, you should take note of the many benefits of enrolling in an online home inspector training program. You’re a busy adult and need an education that is tailored to your life. From a flexible schedule to a self-paced course, you’ll be able to build a solid foundation of home inspection knowledge with these benefits:

Learn Anytime, Anywhere – One of the biggest advantages of choosing online training is that you can log onto your online course day or night. Because the course materials are accessible on your computer, you can literally determine your study schedule. If you work during the day, complete your assignments, quizzes and tests during your lunch break or at night after dinner. Additionally, if you have a laptop computer, you can learn on the go – take your computer with you and study whenever you have free time.

Create a Steady Pace – If you want learn the concepts faster, you can move at an accelerated rate. If you need to slow down to concentrate harder on the terminology and procedures, you can do that too. The best news is that you’re in charge! You never have to feel that you’re behind; you set the pace, which means that you call the shots in your education. You’ll know the material because you are learning it your way.

Receive High-Quality Materials – If you do your research and enroll in an accredited school, you’ll have the same high-quality materials that you’d find at a traditional brick-and-mortar school. From in-depth textbooks with full color illustrations to comprehensive DVDs that clearly depict home inspection concepts, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to succeed on the job. Additionally, some schools provide case studies and mentor ride-alongs so you can gain the hands-on experience you need to transfer into your career.

Keep Your Current Job – There’s no need to quit your job or take time off to prepare for your home inspection career. With online home inspector training, you can maintain your same schedule, with no disruptions. There’s also no additional time away from home. If you have a family, your study time doesn’t interfere with dinner, sports or after-school pickups. It’s the easiest way to keep things the same while you study for an exciting future.

Save Money, Time and Your Sanity – You can say goodbye to the negative aspects of traveling to a live school. There are no gas costs or parking fees. You don’t have to endure long commutes or time away from home. The distance between you and your training will be a short walk to your computer. You’ll sit down to study and be relaxed, calm and ready to focus on your studies.

Get Personal Assistance – Learning online doesn’t mean that you learn alone. In fact, most online schools provide one-on-one assistance with their online education. If you have a question, you can call during regular business hours and talk to someone. Course questions, technician issues or encouragement – you’ll find it all at an online school.

You have many choices when it comes to your education. You have to determine if the benefits of enrolling in an online home inspector training program are what you need with your career training. It’s an ideal way to prepare for your new future your way. If you like the idea of creating a custom education that works for you, then online learning should be your first choice. Online education can provide the flexibility, convenience and opportunity you’re looking for.

Buying a home, to most of us, is often an expensive, scary endeavor. Even for seasoned, experienced home-buyers, the process is typically not without some degree of trepidation and apprehension. Much of that apprehension has to do with the physical condition of the property…whether or not the house is in reasonably good condition…whether the house is really as good as it looks or is a money-pit just waiting to steal your money away in the form of unanticipated repairs and expenses.

Enter the Inspector…the guy, or gal, that will give the home a thorough assessment and report to you on its physical condition so that you can make an informed purchase decision. How are you going to effectively track down and choose a good, professional Inspector? Well, there are a few time-proven strategies:

You might ask your family, friends, and neighbors if they’ve had any really positive experience with any particular Home Inspector. If they have, they’ll likely share that with you…and if they’ve had a bad experience, well, you’ll probably learn about that. too.

You could ask your real estate agent for some referrals…but don’t rely on a single recommendation. I suggest asking the agent who they might hire to insect a home if they were the buyer. Or who they think is the most picky inspector; that’s the one you want to hire.

Do some on-line research…ask questions in local forums. Check out on-line reviews; if a company has a large number of legitimate and positive reviews, they might be a good potential candidate. But beware, as in other fields, some inspectors write their own reviews; you can usually tell which one those are and they should be avoided.

Some other general tips are:

Don’t rely on the fact that an individual possesses a state license or local business permit as any proof whatsoever that they are either overly professional or at all competent…often, that means almost nothing.

Look for an individual that’s affiliated with a prominent and leading national Home Inspector organization…one that maintains high entry and membership standards such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI); active membership in such an organization is, often, a good indication of a Home Inspectors commitment to professionalism.

Search for complaints against the Inspector and their company…Consult the Better Business Bureau to determine if the potential Home Inspector is an accredited member company and whether or not they have any unresolved complaints against them

Once you’ve narrowed your selection down to 3 -5 potential candidates, you need to contact each of those and ask them some direct, and pointed, questions. And here is where you don’t want to shy or timid in your approach.

Please, will you talk to me? If a Home Inspector doesn’t answer their phone or return your initial phone call in a timely manner, then move on. If an inspector can’t, or won’t, make and take time to answer you questions now, then there is good likelihood they can’t, or won’t, answer them later.

How good are you and how long have you been doing this? If an inspector doesn’t exude confidence, move on. Likewise, if an inspector doesn’t have a significant amount of experience under their belt, you might better keep searching. Everyone has to learn sometime…but maybe you don’t want them gaining their basic experience on your home.

What kind of report will I receive?…Look for an answer that suggests a narrative style report…or at least a combination narrative/checklist type of report. What you need is a good Home Inspection report that clearly identifies any issues in readily understood language presented in complete and grammatically correct language.

How soon will I receive your report? Most professional Home Inspectors will provide their report to you, electronically, within 24 hours of the completion of the Home Inspection and this is what you should expect.Can I be there…with you? It’s important that you be able to attend every moment of your Home Inspection should you desire to do so; the inspection should be a time during which you are able to learn about the house and to get your questions answered. An Inspector who discourages your presence should be avoided at all cost.

Following some basic guidelines, doing specific research, and asking some pointed question of potential Home Inspectors will go far in helping you find a good Home Inspector and, hopefully, a good experience with that Inspector.